In the period 08-09.04.2025, the EPALE NSP team of the Republic of Macedonia hosted a Regional Roundtable held in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia. This annual meeting is realized within the framework of the Regional Balkan Cooperation of EPALE NSP from 6 countries: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and North Macedonia.

On our agenda were several important events that will mark the year 2025.

We are starting the preparations for the IX Regional Conference, which this year will be hosted by our colleagues from NSP Slovenia. The Regional Conference will be held on 25.09.2025 and the program will explore how each of the countries is preparing for and contributing to the development of the skills of the future. Inspiring speakers and influential figures from the region will discuss the current state of policies in the participating countries regarding future skills, what they actually mean and how they are defined, as well as the role of adult education in defining this process. A special focus of this conference will be dedicated to marking 10 years of EPALE, to which we will dedicate a joint panel of EPALE ambassadors and practitioners, who will share personal experiences of how EPALE has helped in their personal and professional development in the past 10 years.

In continuation of the Regional EPALE Conference, a regional training for EPALE Ambassadors will be held, at which our collaborators from the 6 participating countries will work on topics related to the use of artificial intelligence in the creation of educational content, as well as the skills that every EPALE should possess and develop in order to increase motivation and involvement of target groups.

A special part of the Round Table was dedicated to the job-shadowing component. It is a regional burse of knowledge and skills, in which each of the participating countries offers expertise in certain areas of adult education to representatives from another country that believes that there is a need for additional knowledge and experience in the relevant area. This activity is intended for representatives of NSSs, experts, providers of adult education etc. The topics for cooperation have already been defined, and in the coming period, the specific opportunities and the manner of their implementation will be additionally announced. As a result of this activity, a Handbook of Good Practices will emerge, which will summarize the experiences of the involved social partners and will further serve as a practical guide in defining the regional potential of adult education.

We leave the meeting with positive energy and enthusiasm in the development of joint cooperation, with faith in concrete results that will give a special mark to the EPALE Platform.